Veg news 31st October

We dedicate veg news this week to the rare UK-grown butternut squash. Unlike lots of other squash varieties, butternuts are tricky to grow in the UK climate and are hardly ever seen in supermarkets, particularly when inexpensive Spanish are so widely available. For flavour though we urge you to try the ones from Lucy Watts at Vine House Farm in Lincolnshire. Roasted, curried, risottoed or pureed in a soup they are sweet and flavoursome.

Bagthorpe Farm down in Norfolk are producing an impressive range of autumnal roots – their dirty parsnips are nutty and creamy, alongside great onions and carrots. There’s a distinctive move towards hardier, rooty veg across the range – celeriac, kale and cavolo nero are all proving great fuel as we move towards shorter, colder days.

It may feel frostier and cooler in Manchester but for a taste of tropical sunshine please try one of the incredible mangoes coming out of Spain – the Sensational variety have a densely sweet flavour and are free from the stringy bits that get caught in your front teeth. Pomegranates are also tasting pretty special of late, well worth the unavoidable mess of preparing one to eat.

After a long summer break we’re getting our first arrival from Agricoop in Sicily this Friday. Expect to see kiwis, sweet potatoes and cherry tomatoes alongside the usual range of amazing citrus fruit from this carbon-rich island. Lastly, Spanish Hass avocados land on Wednesday – arguably the best toast topping in the world, and a welcome addition to the seasonal range.